Fig. 1.

Cecal contents derived from conventional but not germ-free mice can induce OVA-specific cytokine production. MLN lymphocytes were isolated from germ-free OVA23-3 mice, and 2.5 × 10⁶ cells were stimulated with or without OVA (250 μg/ml) and cecal contents (50 μg/ml) from conventional (CV) or germ-free (GF) mice for 48 h. Cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p40) secreted in the supernatants were assayed by ELISA. All data represent mean ± S.D. *Significant differences from non-stimulated cells (medium) to cells stimulated with bacterial preparation (p < 0.05). Data shown are representative of 2 independent experiments